The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Nigerian-American, Oluwatobi Adegoke, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Lagos State, sitting in Ikeja, on a one-count charge bordering on stealing.

Adegoke’s journey to the dock started in July 2026 when he was arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate over an alleged cross-border vehicle import fraud involving more than $320,000, approximately N434.88million.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly belonged to a syndicate based in the United States that specialised in defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians under the guise of purchasing and importing vehicles from the US.

Further investigation revealed that while residing in the United States, Adegoke allegedly advertised and circulated photographs of a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG to prospective buyers in Nigeria, claiming that he could purchase and ship the luxury vehicle to them. The investigation further established that two victims allegedly paid a combined sum of more than $320,000 (over N434.88 million) in connection with the transaction.

The charge reads: “Statement of Offence

Stealing contrary to section 278(1)(b) and 285 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“Particulars of Offence

Oluwatobi Adegoke sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division, dishonestly converted to your own use, the sum of ($680000) property of Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike, being money transferred to the bank account of your company Omosco Auto Sales LLC for purchase of 2022 G Wagoon from Mr Robinson.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Arazeem Adebayo, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant.

The defence counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, who had earlier been overruled on his objection to the arraignment of the defendant, was again overruled when he applied that the defendant be remanded at EFCC custody pending the filing of his bail application. (LEADERSHIP)